Soot catcher for furnaces



March 12, 1946. AYE 2,396,537

, SOO'I' CAICHER FOR FURNACES Filed June 7, 1944 l1 m WM? m n Z Z 2 5 17 1 1:

' f'fJZQZL-Qf Patented Mar. 12, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SOOT CATCHER FOR FURNACES George Sayer, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application June 7, 1944, Serial No. 539,223

7 Claims.

My invention comprehends a tray especially adapted for catching soot and other deposits in cleaning the dues of a hot-water furnace. In order to derive maximum efliciency in the exchange of heat in the operation of a domestic furnace of this type it is generally recognized that it is highly important that the coil fiues be cleared of soot at frequent intervals, which, as customarily performed, is inclined to be a messy and objectionable task. The usual practice in raking and brushing the fiues is to draw accumulated soot through the clean-out opening and allow it to drop onto the floor, or, at best, to endeavour to catch such soot in a shovel or other receptacle held at the level of the opening. No matter how carefully the householder attempts to carry out this operation it usually results in spilling all or a considerable part of the soot, thus polluting the atmosphere in the vicinity of the operator and soiling both his clothing and person. Such objectionable procedure may be simply and conveniently overcome by raking or brushing the soot down the dues so as to cause it to fall into the combustion chamber where it is caught on a tray held over the fire-bed.

Essentially the invention concerns a tray for this purpose, designed. to be fitted in the combustion chamber, and supported by an attachment device at a suitable elevation between the coils and the fire-bed so that it will serve to catch refuse dropped through the ooil-flues in the cleaning process.

It is an object of my invention to provide a highly emcient and serviceable tray which may be used by inserting it through the fire-door opening and which may be spread in the combustion chamber to catch virtually all the refuse dropped through the coil-flues.

It is a further object to produce a tray of this character having spreadable sections which can be opened to the full width of the combustion chamber when the device is inserted through the fire-door opening.

It is a still further object to furnish the tray with means by which it may be readily suspended in applied position within the furnace.

A distinctive feature of the invention is that it is comparatively cheap to manufacture and easy to use.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the tray depicted in applied position in a furnace.

Fig. 2 is a perspective aspect of the trayshowing it spread ready for use.

Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof depicting the spreadable parts of the tray body in collapsed position, the spread position being indicated in dash lines.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the tray showing a variant form of attachment means.

Fig. 5 is a lengthwise section thereof.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the figures throughout the drawing of the invention.

In carrying out my invention I provide a soot catcher in the form of a tray capable of being inserted through the fire-door opening of a furnace and of a length to extend to the back wall thereof. Since the.vertical flue-passages of the coils are distributed around the upper region of the combustion chamber it is necessary that the tray shall cover the entire area of the fire-bed, and on account of the comparatively narrow fueldoor opening it is requisite that the tray be of a collapsible structure capable of being spread upon insertion into the combustion chamber.

Desirably I construct the tray of a main section 6 and side sections 1. The main section is a flat member having parallel sides and of a width slightly less thanthe fuel door opening 8 for passing freely therethrough. It is of a reach such as to project from the said opening when .the front end 9 is positioned in close proximity to the back wall of the combustion chamber l0. Said front is angular and its edge portion recedes from an intermediate point so as to conform approximately to the rotundity of the combustion chamber such that the intervening gap will provide a passage for gases to ascend to'the coil-fiues. H. The main section is of sheet metal stiffened in any manner common to the art.

The side sections 1 are also of sheet metal. They rest upon the main section and are individually pivoted to the main section at the rear end l2 thereof, as at l3, for movement to and away from each other, for which purpose they are supplied with divergent handles M. A lip 15 is formed at the front of the main section for engaging the distal edges of the side sections in the closed positions of these members or in order to preclude any untoward bending or straining of the components in the removal of the tray rotundity of the combustion chamber when they are in their spread positions as in Fig. l. The polygonal sides thus formed leave gaps for passages of gases to pass to the coils, and these sides are supplied with shallow, upright walls IS.

The tray is preferably attached in suspended position as by the suspension device shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. This device comprises a rectangular frame denoted as a whole at H, and which is. of a width. to. fit within the. frame It. of the opening 8 and is. constructed integralwitn or secured to the rear of the main section 6. The side pieces l9 are slotted as at 20 to fit onto the flanges 2| of said frame l8 and the top piece 22 is supplied with a hand screw 23 for: tightening against said flange 2|.

It will be manifest that by this construction the tray may be readily fitted. in the furnace and suspended by the attachment device, so that the side sections can be spread to catch soot that is caused to fallthrough; the coil-fines in. the cleaning operation, which; operation is of course performed when. the fire. is low.

Adverting; to Figs, t and- 5, there is herein depicted a variant form. of the attachment device, which comprises uprights 24 rigid with; the rear of the main section for fitting inside of thefuel door opening. The uprights. have outwardly directed lugs. 25. for. engaging therespecti-ve outer edges of the sides or. flanges of the frame 18 of. the opening 8. The main section has anelement or elements as at 251 for seating; on the bot.- tomv part 21 of the frame wand provided with a lug. 28 for inwardly shoulder-ingagainst thev same. Bythis arrangement the tray is held. in place by its own weight dueto the overhang. It will beunderstood thatthe side sections. are brought to. a. closed. position in order to removethe-v tray from. the furnace.

L claim:

1. A soot tray for a furnace provided with a. fuelv door opening, said soot tray comprising a main sectionof an elongated. shape having; parallel sides andbeing insertible-endwisethrough the fuel door opening to extend acrossthe'f-urna'ce combustion chamber, and side sections swingably supported upon said main sectioxrfor spreading, within the combustion; chamber; said, side'- sections being: of a segmentalshape sozas toform: with saidzmain section an. approximately circular tray when spread.

Z A soot tray ofthe-kind described comprising". a: main. section: of an elongated: shape for insertion endwise through: a fuel door opening of afurnaceso as toextend across the furnace combustion chamber, side. sections. supported upon said. main section and pivoted-L to the outerend" thereof for spreading within the combustion chamber, and a lip carried by the inner end of said main section for engagement with the distal ends of said side sections.

3. A soot tray of the kind described comprising a main section of an elongated shape for insertion endwise through a fuel door opening of a furnace so as to extend across the furnace combustion chamber, side sections supported upon said main. section. and pivoted to the outer endtherect for spreading, within the combustion chamber, said side sections having outer edges of a polygonal contour, and walls formed on said outer edges and conforming to the contour thereof.

4. A soot tray as defined in claim 1, in which the side sections are pivoted at their outer ends to spread; the combustion chamber, and in which handles are provided on said side sections outwardly of their pivotal connections.

5;. A soot tray as defined in claim 1, in which the side sections have inner edges which meetwhen the side sections arein closed positiomand in. which said sidesections have outer edges provided with soot retaining walls terminated short of the forward ends of the. said inner edges so as.

to provide-afrontal discharge openingfor emptying the tray when the sidesections are in closed position.

6. A- soot tray of the kind described comprising a: main section of an elongated shape for insertion endwise through a fueldoor opening of a furnace soas to extend acrossthe furnace combustion chamber, side sections supported upon said main section and pivotedtothe outer end thereof for spreading withinthe combustion chamber and. a device forming an interfitting connection between theinner end of said mainsection and the distal ends of said sidesections-in the non-spread positions of the side sections.

7. A soot trayfor a furnace provided with a fuel door opening surrounded by a. frame, said soot tray comprising a, main section of. an elongated shape having substantially parallel sides. and' being insertible endwise through. the. fuel door opening to extend across. the furnace combustion chamber, side sections. swingably supported upon said' main section for spreading within the combustion chambensaidside sectionsbeing of a segmental shape so asto. form withsaid main section an approximately circular. tray when spread, and means provided on the. outer end of said main section for detachably supporting the tray on the frame of the. fuel door opening whereby the main section. is rigidly held so that the side sections may be spread.

GEO. SAYER. 

